The Yankees and Mets Drafts

The New York Mets, with the 13th pick in the draft selected Brandon Nimmo, an outfielder out of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Nimmo didn't have a high school baseball team so he had to play Legion baseball. This pick is purely a credit to the Mets scouting department who went and saw the kid play. What they saw they liked. He is a lefty bat that should develop the power necessary to hit some balls out of Citi Field, especially if they move the fences in. Nimmo is the kind of pick that has to have MEts fans a little excited, he could be their corner outfielder for years to come. Hell, I'm sure some Mets fans would take this kid over Jason Bay right now! I'm not saying this kid is a super-prospect but he had to be doing something right if he got noticed without a high school baseball team. While its always hard to project if a kid will make the Majors, I do see Nimmo becoming the Mets left fielder, or right fielder, for years to come down the road. It might take a little while as the kid adjusts to the new level of competition so for a few years Mets fans will playing Finding Nimmo.

The Yankees didn't have a first round pick this year because the Steinbrenner Braintrust (wait, I thought Cashman had autonomy here) decided signing Rafael Soriano was the better route. So, the Yankees selected 51st overall, thanks to the Marlins signing Javier Vazquez. With that pick, the Yankees selected Dante Bichette, Jr. Yep, son of former Major Leaguer Dante Bichette who was a member of those Coors Field inspired Colorado Rockies teams that launched balls into orbit. Little Bichette is a two-time All Central Florida Player of the Year. He was not on ESPN's Keith Law's Top 100 Prospects List. However, the kid did hit .640 (55-86) with 14 doubles and 10 home runs and 40 RBI's in 30 games as a senior in high school. Keith Law says the power is there but he questions Bichette's hit tool, whatever that means. I think the Yankees might finally have drafted a power bat that plays into a corner outfield slot after years of drafting toolsy guys without much pop (Slade Heathcott, Mason Williams, Brett Gardner, Austin Jackson, etc.) Bichette, Sr. and Joe Girardi are close friends so if the kid eventually makes it and if Girardi is still managing the kid will basically be playing for an uncle. Overall, I like this pick. The Yankees needed some power bats that play into corner outfield positions and Bichette, Jr. definitely has that. Bichette has committed to play at the University of Georgia where he is slated to become the teams starting third baseman but, given the closeness of Giardi and his father, I think something can be worked out fairly quickly to get this kid into pinstripes.